A more accurate title would have been "How to Keep Your Dragons from Getting Enslaved By a Tyrannical Despot." Or, to keep things simpler to fit the movie posters, "Game of Thrones for Kids."

This DreamWorks Animation-produced sequel is darker in tone and more layered than its popular predecessor, but that's definitely a good thing. Like the original "Star Wars" trilogy and "Toy Story" series, the makers of this franchise are allowing the films to grow up alongside loyal young viewers. It's a smart artistic choice.

The makers of "How to Train Your Dragon 2" choose to expand the universe geographically — a logical move considering the protagonists now move on the backs of dragons. Hiccup the Viking and his mount, Toothless, are mapping new lands when they run across the followers of Drago Bludvist, an exiled tribe member who traps dragons and rules through fear and torture.

Free-range dragons are led by a giant ice dragon, a slow-moving icicle-breathing beast that is one of the visual highlights of the movie. (Among other positives, "Dragon 2" has a great sense of scale, especially in the flying scenes.) Meanwhile, Bludvist has a Sauron-like plan to bring everyone under his rule.

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★★★ Review

"How to Train Your Dragon 2"

Rated: PG

Length: 102 minutes

★★★★ Excellent ★★★ Good ★★ Fair ★ Poor

The intense story line is carried to some extreme ends, with more peril — including one key character's death — than the typical summer family movie. Bludvist is shrouded in terrifying secrecy early on, and continues to be menacing after the unveiling. In other words, winter is coming, parents. Small or easily scared children should consider another screening of "Bears" instead.

While balancing the comedy and drama nicely, specific moments in "Dragon 2" feel derivative. The sport the main characters are playing in the opening scene is basically Quidditch from the Harry Potter books, with dragons instead of brooms. "Brave" is another easy comparison, especially when it comes to the accents and parent-child friction.